The Northern Crops Institute (NCI) has hired Mark Jirik as director. Jirik replaces Mark Weber, who is retiring from NCI in December and served as director for six years.

Jirik holds a master's degree in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois and a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from North Dakota State University. He has more than 17 years of experience in commodity merchandising and
commercial management at Cargill.

Northern Crops Council's Chairman Greg Kessel, a producer from Belfield, N.D., says, "The Council is confident that Mark is the right choice to lead NCI. His education, skills and experience will provide NCI the necessary leadership to continue to
enhance its well established global reputation for the promotion of northern grown crops."

NCI, Fargo, N.D., supports regional agriculture and value-added processing by conducting educational and technical programs that expand and maintain domestic and international markets for northern-grown crops. NCI is funded by the states of
Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota and commodity groups in those states and Montana.